Erie to celebrate 10th anniversary of Harry T. Burleigh Spirituals festival
The Burleigh Legacy Alliance and Mercyhurst University have partnered to host several events Wednesday, March 25, through Saturday, March 28, as part of the Harry T. Burleigh Festival, a regional celebration honoring the Erie-born composer whose work helped bring African American spirituals into the American classical music tradition. The festival marks the 10th anniversary of the Spirituals Festival, bringing artists, scholars, and community members together to celebrate the Erie-born composer’s enduring impact on American music.
Presented in partnership with the Burleigh Legacy Alliance and community organizations across the region, the multi-day festival will feature performances, lectures, and educational programs exploring Burleigh’s enduring influence on American music and culture.
Born in Erie in 1866, Harry T. Burleigh became one of the most influential composers and arrangers of African American spirituals in American history. While studying at the National Conservatory of Music in New York, Burleigh helped introduce spirituals to composer Antonín Dvořák, shaping Dvořák’s understanding of American musical identity. Burleigh later arranged and published dozens of spirituals that helped bring the tradition into the classical concert repertoire and influenced generations of musicians.
Several of the festival’s signature events will take place on the Mercyhurst campus, including performances and workshops featuring internationally recognized musicians, scholars, and cultural leaders.
Participants in the festival include Dr. Damien Sneed, a nationally recognized pianist, vocalist, conductor, and composer whose work bridges classical, gospel, jazz, and contemporary music; Dr. Jean E. Snyder, a leading scholar of Harry T. Burleigh and author of the definitive biography "Harry T. Burleigh: From the Spiritual to the Harlem Renaissance;" acclaimed soprano Dr. Louise Toppin, a leading interpreter of Burleigh’s music and professor of voice at the University of Michigan; and countertenor Patrick Dailey, whose dynamic performances and recordings have helped bring Burleigh’s work to new audiences.
Featured artists include members of the 105 Voices of History HBCU Choir Ensemble, composed of collegiate singers from Fisk, Tennessee State, Howard, Morgan State Universities, and more.
Additional festival participants include Gary Mitchell Jr., a baritone and pianist known for performances of spiritual and classical vocal repertoire on Broadway and around the country; and Michael Berlin, an award-winning, PBS film maker with his culminating Burleigh documentary premiere.
The festival will also feature participation from WQLN Public Media’s Brian Hannah, whose work introducing classical music and musical history to regional audiences has helped connect the Erie community with the broader traditions of American music.
Festival programming will include concerts, community events, educational workshops for students, and opportunities for audiences to explore Burleigh’s life and legacy. Events hosted by Mercyhurst will take place at venues including the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center and other campus locations.
By hosting festival events on campus, Mercyhurst continues its longstanding commitment to arts education, cultural engagement, and community partnerships throughout the Erie region.
The festival is also supported by Tennessee State University, Big Blue Opera Initiatives, Erie Arts & Culture, and the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority.
All events hosted at Mercyhurst are free and open to the public, offering community members an opportunity to experience performances, lectures, and workshops exploring Burleigh’s life, music, and legacy.
Additional information about festival events hosted at Mercyhurst, including a full schedule and artist details, is available at: